Reel



P. S. MCCANN Jan. 11, 1938.

REEL

Filed Jan. 1l, 1936 /A/Vf/vro/P P5. /V/C CAN/V '9)' 7%@ www A 7mm/fr Patented Jan. l l, 193

uNrrE srArE Mmmm@ amada Paul S. McCann, lila Grange, mi., aser to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, it York, N. Y., a corporation or New Forli Y Application .ianuary lll, i936, Serial No. tlti This invention relates to reels and more particularly to metallic reels for holding cable or other heavy material susceptible of being wound thereon.

An'object of this invention is the provision of an improved reel lag which is of the required structural strength, economical to manufacture and durable in service.

In accordance with the above object the invention contemplates in one embodiment thereof channel shaped metal lags for use in a metal reel which includes annular channel shaped rims surrounding the peripherles of the heads for removably securing the lags for enclosing the reel, the

4l5 side arms of the channel shaped lags being flared outwardly and notched for substantially one-half the depth of the lag at their end portions which extend into and are supported within the channel shaped rims. The narrowing of the end portions oi the side arms of the channel lags appreciably strengthens the lags so that they successively withstand impact stresses encountered in normal service. Also this lag construction permits a. reduction in the distance between the side arms 5 of the channel rims which results in a strengthening of the rims. Other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description ltaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein n Fig. 1 is a front elevational View, partly in section, of a reel embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, of the reel shown in Fig. l;

l Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one oi the lags for enclosing the reel; v A

Fig. 'l is a perspective View ci a modified form of lag, and m Figs. 5, 6, and '7 are fragmentary sectional views of modiiied forms of the reel head construction of Fig. 1 showing the improved lag in cooperating relation therewith. i

Referring now to the drawing there is dis- M closed a metal reel having heads designated generally as lli. Extending irom a central circular' portion (not shown) of each head Hl are inner channel shapedA spokes it, one of which is illustrated fragmentarily in Fig. 2, `the spokes being suitably shaped at their inner ends to abut the periphery of the central portion and are 4welded thereto. Aro welded to the outer ends of the spokes l5, as indicated at It, is an annular channel shaped portion il, the spokes extending be- 55 tween the side arms thereof. A metal drum 25 is `secured between the heads lll for sustaining a cable 26, or other heavy material that may be wound thereon. Secured to and extending ,outwardly from the outer periphery of the drum 60 are a plurality of segmental channel shaped head (Ul. 20H-5t) ends of the plates being slightly spaced as incllcated at tt. The ends ci the side arms of the channel head plates t5 Vare in alinement and the inner arms thereof engaging the periphery ci the drum tt are alined with the annular ends of the drum, the latter ends being arranged'inside the outer side arms of the annular channel shaped portion lll.

Extending across the spaces it between the head plates are outer channel shaped spokes il, the side arms of the spokes 3l being notched at their inner ends so that their edge faces abut the annular channel shaped portion Ill and also the inner side arms of the head plates 35. The spokes 3l'V are secured to the head plates 35 by spot welding, as indicated at it (Fig. 2), and the head plates it are secured to the drum 25 and the drum to the annular channel shaped portions il by spot welding, as indicated at 39 (Fig. 1), the spokes being further secured to the portions il by arc welding, as indicated at it.

An annular-ly formed channel shaped rim dit surrounds the periphery of each head It of the reel. The rim d2 is secured-to the head lll by being spot welded to the outer side arms of the head plates 3b, as indicated at tt (Fig. 1). For enclosing the reel between the rims it of the heads it there are provided metal lags td` which serve to protect the cable 26 Wound on the drum t5. ln one embodiment of the invention (Figs. l, 2, and 3) the lags tt are channel shaped with their opposite longitudinally spaced end portions iitting within the opposed inside channels of the head rims di. As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 side arms llt or anges of the channel lag llt are iiared outwardly with their longitudinal edges formed to provide outwardly extending open beads, the outward flaring of the arms permitting a compact nesting of the lags when removed from the reel and the reel is being returned to the cable supplier; The opposite longitudinally spaced ends of the side arms dt are notched, as indicated at dit, for substantially one-half their Width, the notches extending inwardly 'from the opposite ends of the side arms lit a distance substantially equal to the inside width of the side arms of the annular head rims di. The notching of the opposite ends oi the channel lags ltd it will he obvious results in a narrowing of the side arms it thereof and consequently greater resistance to deformation when the reel isdn normal service wherein it is roughly handled and subjected to impact stresses.

The lags M are entered Within the'opposed channels of the head rims il after the cable 2t has been wound on. the reel,- through suitable slots (not shown) formed in the outer arms of the head rims. The dimensions of the notched 2 ends of the lags 44 andthe length of the Zag as a whole are such that the lags mayv freely slide. along the opposed channels of thehead rims 42. AAfter a sumcient number of lags 44 have been entered through these slots and moved about the periphery of the reelvto form a complete enclosure, locking members-(not shown) are closed over the slots to` secure the lags in position. A more complete disclosure of the means for locking the lags 44 in position is not believed necsary toa full understanding of the present invention. For a detailed illustration and description of a lag locking means which may be employed reference may be had to U. S. Patent 1,944,188 to L. R. McGuire, dated January 23,

notched ends. For simplicity in forming the lag of Fig. 4 the curved ends of the side arms 45 thereof are formed with outwardly extending -closed beads instead of open beads as in Fig. 3

wherein the lower ends of the side arms 45 are straight between the notched ends. The truss like formation of the lag of Fig. 4 it will be apv parent has all the advantages of the lag -3 with Y the additional advantage of a saving in weight.

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 show slightly modified forms of the reelconstruction of Fig. 1 at a point adjacent the periphery of the reel head. In Fig. 5 the outer side arm of the segmental channel shaped head plate 35 abuts the inner surface of the inner side arm of the annular channel shaped rim 42 instead of the outer surface of said arm of the rim as shown in Fig. 1. Ihe outer side arm of the head plate 35 of Fig. 6 in addition to abutting the inner surface o f the inner'side arm of the rim 42 is extended outwardly and at right angles and abuts the inner surface of the rim portion which interconnects the side arms thereof. In Fig. 7 the head plate 35 which is L-shaped in cross-section at its inner end terminates in line with the inner surface of the inner side arm of the channel rim 42. 'I'he head plates as shown inFlg. 7 may'also be formed with an inwardly extending embossment Ell concentric with the periphery of the reel head and immediately inside the lags`44, which embossment has a shock absorbing effect when the reel is subjected to deleterious impact stresses when in normal service. n

A metal reel constructed as above described with the parts secured together by welding results in a rigid and durable reel -for handling cable wound thereon and by enclosing the reel with channel shaped metal lags 44 having opposite ends of the side arms 45 thereof which are entered in the opposed channels of the head rims 42 notched for substantially one-half their width an appreciably stronger lag construction is pro-'- vided. The narrowing of the side arms of the channel lags appreciably strengthens the lags against impact stresses encountered in normal service of the reel. Furthermore by reducing the Width of the side arms 45 of the channel lags 44 the distance .between the side arms of the channel shaped rims 42, in which the notched ends of the lags are entered, may also be reduced, thus providing a stronger rim construction.

It is. of course.'to be understood that the invention is not limited to the speciiic embodiments described, but is to be restricted only by the scope of the appended claims.-

1What is claimed is:

1. 'A cable reell .comprising spaced metallic heads, a' drum 'connected therebetween, and channel shaped lags for enclosing the reel, each `head having an annular peripheral' member 'adapted to support opposite ends of said lags,

said channel lags having their side arms narrowed at their ends wherel they rest on said members head having a peripheral annular channel shaped for increasing their resistance against deformalag supporting member,v said channel lags having their side arms notched to reduce the width thereof at their end portions which extend into the supporting members for strengthening the lags against deformation by impact stresses.

3. In a metal reel, a plurality of metallic heads, each including an annular channel member surrounding the head. and a plurality of metallic channel lags extending between and engaged at opposite ends in thezopposed channels of said members for enclosing the reel, the side arms of said channel lags being substantially decreased in width at their end portions engaged in said members as compared to the width thereof intermediate said members for increasing their resistance against deformation by impact stresses.

4. In a metal reel, a plurality of metallic heads, each including an annular channel member surrounding the head, and a plurality of metallic channel lags extending between and engaged at opposite ends in the opposed channels of said members. for enclosing the reel. the side arms of said channel lags being notched to decrease the depth of the channel at the ends of the lags engaged in said members for increasing their resistance against defonnation by impact stresses.

5. A lag for cable reels having spaced heads comprising a channel ,shaped member having a base forming an outer surface and arms extending toward the interior of the reel and adapted at opposite longitudinally spaced end portions to engage reel heads, said arms being substantially reduced in width at said end portions to increase their lateral strength at vthe points of engagement with the reel heads.

6. A lag for cable reels having spaced heads comprising a channel Vshaped .member having a base forming an outer surface and arms extending toward the interior oi'- the reel and adapted at opposite longitudinally spaced 'end portions to engage the reel heads. said arms being notched at said end portions to increase their lateral strength at the points of engagement-with the reel heads.

7. A lagfor cable reels having spaced heads Vcomprising' a. channel shaped member having a 

